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Jan 30 Independence of Path

Conservative Vector Fields

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Let's say you have a vector field $F(x,y) = < M(x,y), N(x,y)>$. That is conservative iff there exists a function f(x,y) such that $\nabla{}f = F(x,y)$.

Determining conservativeness

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Let's say you have a vector field $$< y^3 \cos(x), 3y^2 \sin(x)>$$
Remember that the x term in that field is $f_x$, while they y term is $f_y$. If both parts are continuous, then by Clairaut's Theorem, $f_{xy} = f_{yx}$. So, if F = < M(x,y), N(x,y)>, $\boxed{M_y = N_x}$.
$$\dfrac{\partial}{\partial y} y^3 \cos(x) = 3y^2 \cos(x) $$
$$\dfrac{\partial}{\partial x} 3y^2 \sin(x) = 3y^2 \cos(x)$$
They're the same! By Clauraut's Theorem, there exists a function f.
Now, let's find that function! However, I want to demonstrate something, so I will slightly change the field to < y^3 \cos(x) + 1, 3y^2 \sin(x)>
$$f_x = y^3 \cos(x) + 1 \rightarrow f = y^3 \sin(x) + x$$
$$f_y = 3y^2 \sin(x) \rightarrow f = y^3 \sin(x)$$
Notice how the functions are not the same, however only the first satisfies both parts of the vector field. When there are extra terms, that means they only have an impact in either x or y, so you must combine the two expressions to create one functions with all of the terms. So, here $f(x,y) = y^3 \sin(x) + x$.

TFAE

TFAE means "The Following Are Equivalent". So, the following things are either all true or all false.

Independence of Path

If the entire phrase of part five is true, including continuous first partials and simply connected, then the integral is independent of path. This means that if you want to take the path integral from A to B, you can go along a straight line, a curve, split it up into two straight lines, it doesn't matter. Any possible path from two points has the same path integral. This is only true when it is conservative. That is crucial to understand. This is something specific to conservative vector fields.